Nature's Soap alternative - Soap Nuts!

Nature's Soap alternative - Soap Nuts!

A 100% natural, eco-friendly laundry detergent that is not only economical, but easy to use, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal?  If this sounds too good to be true, read on...

Soap Nuts are a fabulous addition to your eco home - when you consider they are are 100% natural, it's hardly surprising. They are also 100% organic and capable of washing your clothes without a single chemical or anything additional!

So what are they? 

The tree itself is actually called 'Sapindus Mukorossi' and whilst we called them soap nuts and they are referred to as soap nuts we have to remember that they don't actually contain any soap because they don't contain lye.

And the plant isn't even a nut! It is a part of the lychee family, making it a fruit! It boasts some pretty incredible environmental properties. The part of the tree that is the 'soap nut' are actually berries and they can be harvested from September to February which is an extremely long and sustainable supply.

Cleaning with soapnuts might seem like a new, eco-friendly trend, but the practice has actually been around for centuries. People in Nepal and India as well as Native Americans have known about the amazing cleaning powers of soapnuts for hundreds of years. They come direct from India and importantly, are FAIR TRADE.

How do they work?

I'll start off by saying that they're really simple to use, you just pop them in a small fabric bag and chuck them in with your load of washing. The berries contain saponin which is a surfactant that can be used like soap. 

Similar to soap, when the shells of the soap nut come in contact with water the saponin is released and suds are produced - these are excellent for cleaning laundry and leaving it beautifully soft. In addition, the soap nut saponins naturally exhibit anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. 

They're also reusable. Soap nuts, when used properly can be used for a few washes before they stop 'soaping' making them a very economical choice. 

Soap nuts also don't contain any synthetic chemicals which means there are no fabric softening agents or whiteners. That's not to say you need to stick to chemicals in order to achieve the results, there are plenty of natural alternatives you can add to your wash with the soap nuts for example vinegar for tough stains, lemon juice or sodium bicarbonate. 

Soap nuts are also fragrance free and because they contain only pure natural ingredients, are compatible for grey water to reduce water consumption.  All of this also makes them especially good for sensitive skin and those prone to allergies. 

And to top this all off, the shell of the soap nut is 100% biodegradable, meaning you can literally just throw them in your compost when done, helping to cut down on landfill with every load!

Other uses:

  • Pre-Stain Remover
  • Household Cleaner
  • Kitchen Cleaner
  • Bathroom Cleaner
  • Household Cleaner
  • Stainless Steel Cleaner
  • Glass Cleaner
  • Shampoo
  • Body Wash
  • Hand Wash
  • Shaving Cream
  • Baby Wash

Get your Soap Nuts here - www.earthtolife.com.au/products/soap-nuts?_pos=1&_sid=eea0f00b2&_ss=r

 

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